At its March 16 regular meeting, the City Council approved an $186,000 cut to the operating budget. Through the cut and re-appropriation of other city funds, the $364,000 budget deficit has been changed to a $53,000 surplus. This also increases the year’s expected ending fund balance from about $1.46 million to about $1.88 million. Read more

King Conservation District voters elected Renton resident Max Prinsen, a conservation district associate supervisor and the president of a wetland-conservation group, to the district board last month. Read more

Newcastle residents and their nearby neighbors really know the meaning of the word “green.” They proved it when they recycled 346 carloads — nearly 18 tons — of materials at last month’s Newcastle Spring Recycling Collection Event. Read more

Newcastle man Michael Mockovak — who pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder — appeared in court Feb. 18 for a case setting hearing. Another case setting hearing has been scheduled for May 27. Read more